• Elements of an Oil Analysis Program

    Elements of an Oil Analysis Program

    Whenever a proactive maintenance strategy is applied, three steps are necessary to insure that its benefits are achieved. Since proactive maintenance, by definition, involves continuous monitoring and controlling of machine failure root causes, the first step is simply to set a target. or standard, associated with each root cause. Read More

  • Fundamentals Of Fluid Analysis for Industrial Machinery

    Fundamentals Of Fluid Analysis for Industrial Machinery

    Every industrial organization has experienced the consequences of shoddy maintenance: contract penalties, junked parts, injuries, catastrophic damage, ballooning costs, missed shipping dates, irate customers, and sickly quarterly financial reports. Today, machinery and equipment can be maintained to achieve useful operating lives many times those attainable just a few years ago. For oil lubricated machinery, the… Read More

  • The Four States of Water in Oil

    The Four States of Water in Oil

    In the last 30 years or so, most of the literature, including Noria’s publications, refer to water as having three states. Free water has been redefined as being water that, by force of gravity, will phase out of the oil. This means it will separate below (most common) or above the oil phase depending on… Read More

  • Analysis of In-Service Automotive Engine Oils

    Analysis of In-Service Automotive Engine Oils

    Most oil analysis performed in North America is done on diesel engine crankcase oils, primarily for large fleets in the transportation and off-road equipment industries. Ranking second would be the analysis of lubricants used in stationary industrial machinery including compressors, turbines, gearing, bearing lubes, and hydraulics. Far down the list is engine oil analysis performed… Read More

  • How Water Causes Bearing Failure

    By Jim FitchMachinery Lubrication Magazine It takes only a small amount of water (less than 500 ppm) to substantially shorten the service life of rolling element bearings. There is a vast amount of research that supports this. Being a career-long crusader of clean and dry oil, I will certainly not argue the contrary. In fact,… Read More

  • Successful Oil Analysis Practices in the Industrial Plant

    Successful Oil Analysis Practices in the Industrial Plant

    Every industrial organization has experienced the consequences of shoddy maintenance: contract penalties, junked parts, injuries, catastrophic damage, ballooning costs, missed shipping dates, irate customers, and sickly quarterly financial reports. Gone are the days when a machine had a predictable service life, after which it was replaced, continuing the cycle. Today, machinery and equipment can be… Read More

  • Lubricant-Based Techniques for Condition Monitoring of Non-Circulating Gear and Bearing Systems

    Lubricant-Based Techniques for Condition Monitoring of Non-Circulating Gear and Bearing Systems

    The majority of wear related failures occur as the direct result of particulate contamination. A recent article published in Lubrication Engineering magazine concludes that more than 82% of wear related losses are contaminant induced. Read More